For 25 years, Hamden gym provides space for kids to romp
Published: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
HAMDEN — Shortly after 9 a.m. Monday, 20-month-old Mya Spadacenta bounced into Rascals Gym and unloaded her tiny coat, shoes and socks.
She was ready to romp.
“She loves everything,” her mom, Kim Spadacenta of North Haven, said of the multitude of playscapes and activities. “Her favorites are the swings, the balance beams and the slides.
Rascals children’s gym on Whitney Avenue is celebrating 25 years in business this month, and founder Steve Schulefand said he’s at a point where women who came with their children are now bringing their grandchildren.
“I love working with kids. To me, kids are honest and real,” he said. “They should be able to be rascals. They should be able to explore and check things out.”
Miniature chairs with hooks above them line a wall on the right of the entry door, so children have a place to store their shoes and socks. They play in bare feet and their parents wear socks while crisscrossing a bold red rug with a beige center.
The hour long program for the “Wonderful Ones” began with everyone sitting in a circle clapping and chanting: “The children at Rascals say good morning and now it’s time to play.”
Sesame Street and Dr. Seuss characters offer a familiar and encouraging presence along the walls while the girls and boys head full force for bungee cords, swings, a rock climbing wall, trampolines, jungle gyms, seesaws, basketball hoops, treehouses and, yes, even a rollercoaster.
Parents monitor games along with Schulefand and his instructors Lauren Fournier, Lisa LaGaipa and Kate McLoughlin, who are there to make sure the playtime is safe and somewhat structured.
Kathy Lee, a stay-at-home mom from Hamden, said her 20-month-old son, J.J., was more timid when they first started coming to the gym. “He’s warmed up over time and he’s gained confidence,” she said. “I happen to live right around the corner, so it’s super-convenient for me.”
Rascals also provides a haven for children with developmental delays to meet outside the home with staff from KidSteps Family and Children’s Center in Madison. MacKenzie Hanna, an early intervention specialist with KidSteps, said in warmer weather they periodically meet families at parks.
“Kids have a chance to meet other peers and parents get to meet other parents,” Hanna said.
Schulefand said families also host parties at the gym for children 1 to 8 years old.
“Next week, we’ll dress up all week. Halloween’s my favorite holiday,” he said.
Rascals Gym started in Fairfield and moved to Hamden 17 years ago. In honor of the gym’s “birthday,” Schulefand said, families can attend unlimited classes for the upcoming November-December session for an additional $25.
Tuition for an eight-week session is $115 for one-hour classes or $110 for 45-minute classes. Most classes meet once a week.
Schulefand said the staff there rearranges the play areas so families do not get bored. “Every week, we do different things. They explore more by moving the gym around,” he said
Angela Carter can be reached at 789-5752 or acarter@nhregister.com.
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As seen in the Post-Chronicle
Local kid’s gym celebrates 25th year
Published: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By Jennifer Fama
Special to the Post-Chronicle
HAMDEN — Twenty-five years ago Steve Schulefand was doing a children’s theater production of Robin Hood when he decided he liked the reactions of the kids so much that he wanted to do more for children. That and the birth of his first child led to the decision of opening Rascals Gym. Now, it’s 25 years later and kids are still benefiting from that decision.
As a parent, I know it can be tough thinking of new and exciting ways to entertain your children. Rascals Gym can be a big help in this respect. Owner, Steve Schulefand has created a space where kids can feel comfortable and enjoy themselves, while parents get the satisfaction of knowing their kids are in a good social environment.
Schulefand takes great pride in his gym and strives to keep it new and fresh by changing the equipment around every week to avoid any boredom with the apparatus. “My main goal is for the kids to have a good time,” said Schulefand. It is apparent in the faces of the kids that he has accomplished this goal.
My own son, Mossimo attended classes here and while he was shy and timid at first, he had so much fun that he definitely started opening up more and more each week. Steve and the staff at Rascals helped with this too. They never push the kids to do more than they are ready for, but rather keep the invitation always open to engage in the activities with no pressure. Parents are also directly involved based on the age range of the class your child is in.
The classes range from 6 to 15 kids and all have a structure to them. For example, the younger kids will begin with circle time, warm up to music, have a little free play time, and then get to enjoy the different rides that come out each class. The classes for the older kids will incorporate some fine motor skills work and obstacle courses. All classes are non-competitive in nature, allowing children to enjoy themselves at their own pace.
Rascals also finds it important to give back to the community. They are currently involved with Toys for Tots and have been involved with other charities such as Read to Grow and the New Haven Diaper Bank. If you are looking for a wonderful local place to bring your child to get some socialization and purposeful play at a reasonable price, this is it.
Rascals Gym is located at 1647 Whitney Avenue. For more information call 203-288-6552 or visitwww.rascalsgym.com.
